Purulent nasal discharge is a common presenting symptom associated with infections of the upper respiratory tract. The most likely diagnoses are uncomplicated viral upper respiratory infections and bacterial sinusitis. Allergy may be an underlying problem in children with sinusitis. Less common considerations are adenoiditis, infections caused by B. pertussis, C. diphtheriae or Treponema pallidum or intranasal structural problems.
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Ellen R. Wald (1991) studied this question.